By Damilola Charles/Josehine Miller
Colombian Honorary Consul to Nigeria, Mrs Maricel Romero, has said that diplomatic football tournament is a platform for promoting unity, friendship, and stronger relations among participating countries.
Romero told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the event provided an opportunity for diplomats, their families and participating teams to celebrate the unifying power of football.
She described the competition, organised by the High Commission of Canada in Nigeria, as exciting, and commended the spirit of camaraderie displayed throughout the matches.
“It’s been a very exciting day. It has allowed us to enjoy and celebrate the beauty of football, which is a fantastic sport that brings us together.
“The matches were fantastic, the teams showed great energy, and there were no issues.
“Everybody played on a very positive note and that brings out the beauty of playing as teams, as a community and as friends that we all are in this diplomatic world,” she said.
According to her, Colombia welcomes initiatives that foster closer ties with Nigeria and strengthen relations among nations.
“For us, anything that brings us closer to what Nigeria is as a country is a welcoming initiative.
“It is an opportunity for togetherness, closeness and enjoyment, and to continue celebrating the beauty of football,” she said.
Romero also praised the organisers for promoting inclusion through the mandatory participation of female players in every team.
“I would like to highlight the fact that every team had two female players and you were not allowed to swap a female player for a male player.
“That sets a strong motion towards making sure that we have slots secured for women at all levels, and for me this is a very good initiative,” she said.
The envoy emphasised the role of sports in strengthening international relations, describing it as a key driver of community development and social integration.
NAN reports that Team Colombia opened its campaign with a 4-0 victory over Team United States before securing a hard-fought 2-1 win over Team Côte d’Ivoire to advance to the quarter-finals.
The team’s impressive run ended in the semi-finals following a 1-0 defeat to Team Nigeria, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) team. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)